Observations on Borzoi: Called in America Russian Wolf-hounds, in a Series ...

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OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

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Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON

BORZOI

CALLED IN AMEBICA
RUSSIAN WOLFHOUNDS

In a series of Utters toajriend
By JOSEPH BP^raOMAS

" Hie diaae I ling, houDda, ftnd th«r varioui breed,

"And noleaa varioututea . . .

" Ddga thou to hear mj bold, initructive Mog."

SoMHtVIUA

1

BOSTON AND NEW TOEK

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY

Mx BUteT^r pafi CamkrHigt

1912

.vGoo^'Ic

! 8/ouos"

Oi:i7.dDyGoOglc

FOREWORD

This little book not only gives a striking
picture of the wonderfully beautiful Borzoi
with more accurate historical data of his Rus-
sian environment than has probably appeared
elsewhere, but it contains an enlightening
description of his use, capabilities, and limita-
tions. The author has studiously avoided the
suggestions and pitfalls of some of the earlier
importers and fanciers who claimed an impos-
sible combination of speed, endurance, and
courage for the Borzoi. He has expended more
time and energy in fixing a correct type of this
picturesque hound than any American, and
probably more than any one in Europe, bar-
ring a very few in Russia.

The results achieved by him in popularizing
and developing the Borzoi in the United States
solely for the love of the hound and for sport,
the large numbers of fine specimens imported
and bred by him, his travels in Russia, where
he hunted with the Borzoi and studied the
history and type, his experience in coursing
on our own plains with sight-hounds of all

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

vi FOREWORD

modem kinds, clearly make the writer of this
book an authority on the subject.

The valuable matter contained herein and
the charming style in which it is narrated must
appeal to all lovers of man's most faithful
friend, and above all to those who are inter-
ested in a hound "no fonder of fighting than
the deerhouad, faithful as the collie, and more
picturesque than either."

Henry T. Allen

Major U. S. A. ; some time U. S. MJIitary Attache
at St. Petersburg.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

CONTENTS

LBTTBB I

The Name i

The AmiqniTr of CoaRsiNa 5

VARieilBa OF COUBSINO HoUNDB .... 8

LETTER II

PbOBABLE OBUnN of the PaOTOT BoRZOt 16

The Ancient Ttpe 19

The Old-Tuis Hdntino Conditions in Russia . S3

LETTEB III

Advent of the Modebn Type t5

DisPEBBAL or Many Kennels in Bitbsia . iS

DiSTBiBDTiOH OF THE MoDEBN Type Asboad . 29

LETTER IV

Redintegration of the Ancient Ttpe ... 39

LETTER V

Modebn Huntino nt Rdbsia 53

LETTER VI

Hunting in Auebica 71

LETTER VII

Shows and Showing 91

Effect Thebeof 91

Deqenebact 09

Comhentb on Breeding 95

LETTER VIII

Kennel Manaoeuent 101

Feeding 105

ADDENDA HI

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

THE AOtHOR

WiCh (rending from left to rijht)

CHAUFION KOFCHIO O' VALLBT FABH

NEVBKI O' VALLEY FARM
CHAMPION BORVAN O' VALLET FARIf
RABSSIDA or WORONZOVA
CHAMPION BISTRI OF PBRCHINA

( RA8B0I O' VALLEY FARM

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

LETTER I

Valley Farm Kennels,
January 34, 1912.
Since you have been so good, dear Major, as
to desire to hear from me, I must now comply
with your wishes. I have deferred, from time
to time, the writing of these letters hoping that
some one better informed than I am would an-
ticipate me, and so render my labor needless.
However, since but little has been written on
this interesting subject, — even many breeders
appearing quite uninformed, — it seems that
my efforts will not be entirely useless, and I
shall therefore be delighted to accede to yoiu:
request, especially as you consider my work a
necessary one. To be sure, there does appear to
be a lamentable amount of ignorance concern-
ing the history and uses of the Borzoi, which is
the more surprising in view of the antiquity of
■ the breed and its presence in many corners of

Do,1,7cdDyGo6^lc

2 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

the world, largely on account of its extraordin-
ary beauty.

I prefer to use the Russian name "Borzoi,"
meaning swift, rather than the term used in
America, "Russian Wolfhound." The word
"Borzoi" means swift, Hght, agile, and is the
exact equivalent of the German Windhund, the
French levrier, the English greyhound (or
formerly gazehound). The Russians refer to
Asiatic Borzoi, Crimean Borzoi, Polish Borzoi,
as the Germans refer to der englische Wind-
hund, der russische Windhund, and the French,
to levrier russe, levrier anglais, levrier ecoasais.
There is no such breed as the Siberian wolf-
hound.

The Russian Borzoi is no more exclusively a
wolfhound than is the English Borzoi; for, al-
though it has in some instances been especially
trained on wolves, it is more commonly used
for fox and hare coursing. The term "wolf-
homid," current in America, is therefore a mis-
nomer, and in fact only came into official use
here about 1890 (on the suggestion, it is said,
of Mr. James Watson, the well-known judge)
because of a bitter and ridiculous controversy
then going on over the names " Borzoi " and
"Psovoi" among certain fanciers and newspaper

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

THE OHIMKUl OR TARTAR BORZOI

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RUSSIAN BOBZOI — BtrOLIBH ORET HOCUD

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OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 5

writers who themselves were, ia most cases,
quite ignorant on the subject. The Russian
greyhound referred to has been used in Russia
for many centuries, for coursing hare and other
game, as were used the sloughiy or greyhounds
of Egypt, depicted on the monuments of that
country thousands of years before Christ.

There are many persons who seem to have
no comprehension of what is meant by cours-
ing, perhaps because they happen to live in
countries where the lack of game suitable for
that purpose, or the conformatioD of the land,
precludes its pursuit. In attempting a brief de-
scription of it, I miay possibly be understood
the better if I use the term "longhound" in a
general sense, to describe the several kinds of
short- and long-haired coursing animal.

The earliest record of the sport comes down
to us from the Egyptian monuments to which I
have already referred; but in song and in fable,
in illustration and even in history, longhounds
have taken their place, with the falcon and
other animals of the chase, for many thousands
of years.

Arrian, a military officer under the Emperor
Hadrian, wrote a long dissertation on the sub-
ject, in which he says, "Those Gauls who only

Do,l',7cdDyGoOglc

6 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

course for tJie sport, and not to' live by what
they catch, never use nets," showing that even
in those early days coursing had grown to be
more than simply a pursuit of food, and that
even then sport was in the ascendant. Arrian
further says: —

The most opulent and luxurious among the Gaula
course in this manner. They send out good Hare-finders
early in the morning, to those places where it is likely to
find Hares sitting, who send back word if they have
found any, and what number; then they go out them-
selves, and put tliem up, and lay in the dogs, themselves
foUowing on horseback.

Whoever has good greyhounds should never lay them
in too near the Hare, nor run more than two at a time.
For, though the animal is veiy swift, and will oftentimes
beat the dogs, yet, when she is first started, she b so ter-
rified by the hollowing and by the dogs being very close,
that her heart is overcome by fear ; and, in the confusion,
very often the best sporting Hares are killed without
shewing any diversion. She should, therefore, be suf-
fered to run some distance from her form and re-collect
her spirits, and then, if she is a good sporting Hare, she
will lift up her ears, and stretch out with long rates from
her seat, the dogs directing their course after her with
great activity of limbs, as if th^ were leaping, affording
a spectacle worthy the trouble that must necessarily
be employed in properly breeding and training these
dogs.

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OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 7

Count Gaston de Foix, a mighty lord and
mighty hunter, wrote in 1337 what is perhaps
the oldest treatise on Ae subject in any mod-
em language; and between the years 1400 and
1413, Edward the Third's grandson, Edward,
second Duke of York, no other than he who
led the vanguard for England at Agincourt
and died on the field of battle, wrote what he
terms a "litel symple book." This work was
almost a literal translation of the words of
Gaston de Foix, with five original chapters on
English hunting.

It appears from these two medieeval works
that sight-hunting, or coursing, was carried on
very extensively, not only in connection with
falcons, but also in connection with scrait-
hoimds, raches or limers, which latter may be
likened to our modern beagles or bloodhounds.
In the illustrations of Gaston de Foix's book,
now preserved in the Bibliothfeque Nationale at
Paris, are depicted both smooth- and rough-
coated greyhounds.

We note that, all over the world, coursing
has been conducted for thousands of years,
originally with the sole motive of procuring
food, and latterly for sport. There are numer-
ous accounts of hunting expeditions of the sev-

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8 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

eral Mongol rulers of Asia from the days of tiie
conqueror Genghis Khan in the thirteenth
century, in which greyhounds are mentioned as
the principal sporting dogs. An Englishman,
William Blaine, who attended a hunting excur-
sion of the Vizier of the Mongol Empire in
India in 1785, mentioned that this nabob car-
ried on his expedition three hundred gr^-
hounds and at least two himdred hawks.

All breeds of coiursing hounds resemble each
other more or less in general conformation, as
a result, doubtless, of their all having been
bred for speed.

"The Hunter's Calendar and Reference
Book," published in Moscow in 1892, divides
the Borzoi into four groups: First, Russian or
Psovoy Borzoi, of more or less long coat; sec-
ond, Asiatic, with pendent ears; third, Hortoy,
smooth-coated; and fourth, the Brudastoy,
stiff-tufted or wire-haired. Of the better-
known breeds there are nineteen; but there are
many more varieties in northern Africa and
southwestern Asia of widely varying character-
istics, but little known and, so far, not fully
described.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

]j Morrlnn B. Yuac K. ■

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

I HnKTER AMD HIS BOBZOI

,y Google

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 11

Rusnan Borzoi
i. Old Psovoy or Gustopsovoy Borzoi.

2. Courland Borzoi.

3. Modem Psovoy Borzoi.

4. Chistopsovoy Borzoi.

Asiatic Borzoi

5. Caucasian or mount^n Borzoi.

6. Tazyor Turkomenian Borzoi.

7. Crimean Borzoi.

8. Persian Borzoi.
d. Khiva Borzoi.

10. Kirghiz Borzoi.

11. Moldavian Borzoi.
li. Arabian Borzoi.

13. Soudan Borzoi.

Hortoy Bonoi

14. English Borzoi.

15. Polish Borzoi.

Brudastay Borzoi iTufie£)

16. Courland tufted Borzoi.

17. Russian Brudastoy Borzoi.

18. Scotch deerhounds.

19. Irish wolfhounds.

Russian Borzoi
Old Russian Psovoy, or Gustopsovoy Borzoi,
had many varieties, but they all conformed to
the following general characteristics: —

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12 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

Ears, short and pointed; when quiet, lying
back on the neck and touching or crossing each
other by the lips.

Ribs come down below the elbows.

Back, of the males rising in a hump from the
shoulders, and falling again to the hips; the
bitches had a straight back, though sometimes
they also showed a slight hump.

Feet, long, never round like the English
hound.

Hair, dense, soft, and silky, longer than
with any other breed. On the neck the hair
longer and heavier, sometimes forming a
muff.

Color of the type was grey and yellow, also
these mixed; but the color must not be too
deep, nor the same all over the dog. For in-
stance, a yellow dog (of which the straw or
maize color was preferred) must have the muz-
zle, throat, chest, hip edges, and lower side of
tail, considerably lighter in color, even passing
into white on the tips; the same of the grey
dog. Neither must the color be too dark or too
deep, and it must pass into the lighter one
gradually, not in sharply defined spots. An
unbroken dark red or ash-grey color, even with
lighter shadings on the edges, is objected to;

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

ZCTCLOH OF PEBCHINA
Imported by tba Valley Funii Kennt

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 15

but the same dog can have jrellow and grey
mixed in its coat.

In respect to special features of all the differ-
ent varieties of the Russian Psovoy Borzoi, the
authoritiesdo not differ veiy much; and if occa-
sionally some one defends some particular de-
viation, it is mainly owing to private reasons;
and though his dogs may be of pure blood and
breed, still their deviation from the estab-
lished type cannot be approved. For instance,
the ribs of the Russian Psovoy Borzoi are not
barrel -shaped, as those of the Caucasian and
Crimean dogs; they are longer and extend
farther down; and the hips are never so large as
th(»e of the Caucasian and English dogs.

It seems sure that all breeds of Russian
Borzoi came from one common root, namely,
from the crossing of the Asiatic or Eastern
Borzoi, which penetrated into Russia some
hundreds of years ago, with the Northern
wolflike dogs, or even perhaps with the wolf it-
self. This is proved by the ears and by the long
hair on the neck. The Courland Borzoi seems
also to have added its blood to the breed and
given to it the long, curly hair.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

LETTER II

No less an authority than Mr. Artem
Balderoff, of Woronzova, in the Province of
TamoflE, in describing the olden-time hunting
in Russia, has told me that hunting there was
formerly managed on a most magnificent scale ;
the details of which I will give you later. Mr.
Balderoff advances the theory that the several
breeds of longhounds have in their origin little
or no connection. For example, he believes
that the Psovoy Borzoi of Russia — that is, the
long-haired Russian sight-hound — developed
by a process of evolution — swiftness being de-
sired — from the long-coated, smooth-faced
bearhound of early Russia, an animal similar
to the modem laika, but larger; and that the
rough-coated longhound of the modem Scotch
deerhound type, with its rough coat extending
to the face, had an entirely different origin —
possibly, in this latter case, from some dog not
dissimilar to the old English sheepdog, an
earlier type of which may be seen in its rela-
tive, the modem owtchar, or South Russian
sheepdog.

Do,1,7cd.yGoOglc

I ASD HUE. ARTEH BALDBROFF OF WORONZOVA

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 19

The Crimean greyhound has pendent ears,
which would seem to denote an entirely differ-
ent origin from the English greyhound. What-
ever may have been the exact origin of the
Russian Borzoi, the ancient type of this hound
has little except speed lines which would make
it show any blood relationship to the other
breeds, and the subdivisions or variations dif-
fer but little one from the other. To summar-
ize, hounds of this ancient type, which existed
in all purity in Rtissia previous to the begin-
ning of the nineteenth century, had little or no
stop to the skull, tremendous depth of chest,
were rather flat-sided, and had great length of
tail, the hair of which in frequent instances
trailed on the ground. The coat was long and
silky.

In a word, this "ancient type" hound had a
character entirely its own, and, so far as ap-
pears, there was great uniformity among the
hounds that were kept in vast numbers by the
nobles. Apparently from the earliest times
every color from pure black to pure white was
acceptable.

The first mention of dogs that catch hare
seems to have been made in 1260, in connection
with the court of the Grand Duke of Nov-

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20 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

gorod, at the time of the Grand Duke Vasili of
Moscow, father of John the Terrible, first Czar
of Russia, when the then German Ambassador
writes of hunting-dogs, in his reports. In 1650
comes the first written description or standard
for Borzoi, in which long, not too curly coats
seem to be fashionable. In the eighteenth
century hounds with curly coats were highly
regarded.

Only about seventy-five different names
were commonly used for Borzoi; but in pedi-
grees the owners' names were put with them,
thus avoiding confusion. Common names,
which have been handed down for hundreds
of years, are: —

Charade!

— magician.

Blistai

— brilliant.

Sverkai

— flashing.

Nadmen

— proud.

Lubim

— beloved.

Atmen

— "one among many."

Almaz

— diamond.

Lebid

— swan.

Aspor

— the winner of a dispute.

Atamen

— chief of Cossacks.

Rasboi

— brigand.

Tiran

— tyrant.

NaiaD

— troublesome for beasts.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI «1

Malodieb

1 — brickbat.

Oudaloi

— brickbat.

Oudar

— a blow, or to give a hkm.

Kopctiick

— a small falcon.

Karatai

— rapid.

Ardagan

— favorite falcon of John the

Terrible — a Tartar name.

Bistri

— rapid.

Krilatka

— white falcon.

Krilat

— winged.

Zorka

— dawn.

Lada

-bride.

Chara

— enchantment.

Tiranka

— female tyrant.

Lihodka

— flier.

Grozan

— tempest.

Zanoza

— sweetheart.

Son-a

— impulsive.

Seiga

— a doe.

Strela

— arrow.

Colchan

— quiver.

NaUvka

— wine.

MiJka

— darling.

Krassai

— handsome.

Brassai

— as rapid as a dart.

Tersai

— tearer to pieces.

FUai

— hot-headed.

Lebed

— swan.

Lebedbka

— female swan.

Saiga

— antelope.

— swallow.

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22 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

Eolpic — white falcon.

Kolpitsa — " " (Fem.)

Kroglic — " "

Berldet — ** '*

Orlick — eagle.

Krechit — falcon.

It appears that every Russian nobleman of
any importance had his "hunt," and con-
ducted the same with as much seriousness as
did his confreres of western Europe and Eng-
land in the time of the Normans. There were
kennels, kennel-men, horses and horsemen —
the hunting-horses all of one color, the himt
livery all of one hue; — there were human
beaters and scent-hounds finding the game, the
guancki, old-fashioned black-and-tan Russian
hounds. There were many establishments of
several hundred hounds, and one is authenti-
cally stated to have numbered a thousand.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

AHCIENT TTPS

(dog)

DowcdDyGoOgIC

ANCIEHT TT

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

LETTER III

Doubtless you will be interested in know-
ing how it came about that the ancient type of
Borzoi at one time nearly disappeared. It
happened thus: shortly after the close of the
Napoleonic wars, and the subsequent revival
of sporting activity in Russia, there arose a
great craze for trying experiments in crossing
foreign greyhounds with the ancient type
Borzoi of that country. Various breeds were
used; but principally English and Polish
greyhounds (the latter a cousin of the Eng-
lish breed), and Crimean or Asiatic grey-
hounds with pendent ears. To such an ex-
tent was this crossing practiced that in 1861,
when the serfs were emancipated and condi-
tions in rural Russia were turned topsy-turvy,
there were few hounds left in the whole coun-
try the blood of which had not been contamin-
ated by the foreign invasion. After the "free-
dom," large numbers of the Russian nobility,
who were paid by the Government when their
land was relinquished to the former serfs, left
their estates and repaired to the cities and
watering-places of Europe. Inmany cases their

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26 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

kennels were either entirely given up, or utterly
ruined by the extended absence of the lord
of the manor. When the noble eventually
returned to his estate in after years, he was
oftentimes no longer in a position to redinte-
grate his kennels, so that the maintenance of
hounds and hunting, which had originally been
a universal custom throughout Russia, re-
mained in isolated instances only. Private
ownership in small holdings also militated
against the sport in some localities. The eco-
nomic conditions were not dissimilar to those
in the Southern States of America at the close
of the Civil War. Thus it will be seen that first
from the mixing of the breed, and then later
from the decrease in the munber of hounds, the
ancient type became nearly extinct, so that
when the first exportations of Borzoi were
made from Russia, so far as I can ascertain,
none of the real ancient type hounds ever left
the country. It is even doubtful if they could
have been readily found had the exporters
known the difference. Very few of any kind
ever went to Continental Europe. They were
held at too high prices for one thing, were dif-
ficult to obtain at all, and were usually only
sent out to individuals as presents.

Do,:,7.dDyGoOglc

« ANCIENT nrPB BORZOI AND HUNTSIUS

Do,:,7.dDyGoOglc

CZABINA O' VALLEY TABU

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OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 29

.It is not precisely known who first intro-
duced Borzoi into England; but a writer of
1878 observes, concerning British dogs, that
Borzoi, or "Barzois," as he spells it, "are
scarce in this country, which is to be regretted,
as they are strikingly handsome."

In the early days of the Borzoi in Great
Britain a few were exhibited at the Kennel
Club shows, among the best of which were
H. R. H. the Prince of Wales's Moeldewitz
(probably a misspelling of Moloditz), from the
Imperial Kennels at Gatchina, near St. Peters-
burg; Mr. Cumming Macdona's Sandringham,
by Moeldewitz, out of Oudalscha; and Lady
Emily Peel's Czar, a white with fine markings
like his dam, Sandringham. Czar was by the
Duke of Hamilton's Moscow, a prize-winner '
at the Crystal Palace in 1875.

A writer in the "Stock-Keeper" of about
1890 remarks: "The hounds which Lady
Charles Innes-Ker used to exhibit were very
beautiful creatures and pleasantly colored, the
rich-toned orange patches making a rich con-
trast to the pure body white. They were, we al-
ways understood, descended from specimens in
the Imperial Russian Stud, which were origin-
ally presented to Lord Cowley. Lady Emily

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30 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

Peel used also to exhibit a very grand speci-
men of the breed."

From the public appearance of Krilutt,
property of the Honorable Mrs. Wellesley, of
Merton Abbey, Surrey, at the Alexandra Pal-
ace Show in the spring of 1889, dates the pre-
sent popularity of the breed in England and
America. Krilutt is described by Hugh Dal-
ziel, the well-known writer on dogs, as the best
of his day in England. This dog, imported by
Colonel Wellesley, was bom April 27, 1886,
and was bred by Mr. Korotneff. A report of
the Moscow Dog Show for 1888 describes
Krilutt as the winner of a silver medal, which
means that he was a fair specimen, but not
good enough to deserve the gold medal, only
given to hounds of premier rank. He is said to
have sold for four hundred roubles. His mea-
surements, taken from the "Stock-Keeper,"
with comments, were as follows: —

Length of head llj

From occiput to between shoulders llj

From between shoulders to between hips 28

From between hips to set-on of tail 6j

Length of tail (not reckoning hair) %1

Total length 73i

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 31

Inches

Height at shoulder (taken fairly) SOJ

Girth of chest 3S

Girth of narrowest part of tuck-up 22

Girth just above the stifle-bend 13

GirtJi round the stifle 11^

Girth, hock joint 6)

Girth below hock joint 4J

Girth, elbow joint 8}

Girth above elbow joint 8J

Girth, midway between elbow and pastern 6 J

Girth of neck 17

Girth of head, round occiput 16^

Girth of head between ocdput and eyes 16J

Girth of head round the eyea ISj

Girth of head round the muzzle, between eyes
and nose 9

"We give these details fully, because, this dog
being now proved to be the handsomest of its
kind in England, we think they must be not
only interesting, but likewise of instructive
value as a means of future comparison. Krilutt
has the best feet we have seen on any of these
hounds: they are more hare- than cat-footed.
He is a little short in tail, and his head could be
somewhat leaner. The name Krilutt is the
Russian ." winged " — in the sense that Mer-
cury has wings; hence it means "fast in the

,:,7i.i.i Google

32 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

wind." After the advent of Krilutt and the ex-
hibition of a few specimens in the mixed classes
for foreign dogs, the popularity of this breed
soon spread so that as many as forty individ-
uals were exhibited, the principal breeders and
exhibitors being the Duchess of Newcastle,
Colonel the Honorable Charles Wellesley, Mrs.
Alfred Morrison, Mr. W. H. Huntington, Mr.
Kenneth Muir, and Mr. Freeman-Lloyd. The
Duchess of Newcastle became the largest im-
porter, going as far as St. Petersburg on one
occasion herself, and sending agents.

In 1891, the agent of her Grace, Mr. Mus-
grave, sent out, I believe, from St. Petersburg
a shipment of no less than nine at one time. Of
all the shipments made, there appears to have
been not one really good "ancient type"
hound, and in few cases did the importers have
the slightest idea of what the pedigrees of their
hounds meant — that is, they had no know-
ledge of the type of the progenitors of their
purchases. However, it is from an old picture
of Mr. Musgrave's that I first obtained an idea
that the "ancient type" ever had existed. Mr.
Musgrave had found this picture in Russia, al-
though I do not suppose he, or any other for-
eign fancier, ever saw a hound to approach the

DowrdDyGoOglc

CHAMPION BISTRI

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OHAHPION BOBTA OF WOROHZOTA

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 35

dog depicted until I visited the grand kennels
at Perchina many years afterwards — which
visit I shall describe to you later on.

Several of the early imported hounds came
from the Imperial Kennels at Gatchina, near
St. Petersburg, which were full of greyhound
blood and showed it in short tails, distinct stops
to the skull, and short coats in some instances,
while others came from sources no less free from
the greyhound cross. No less an authority than
Mr. Artem Balderoff, who knows almost by
heart the breeding of every dog in Russia, is
the source of my information, which verifies
thoroughly the distinction between ancient
type (Gustopsovoy Borzoi) and modem type
(Christopsovoy Borzoi), mentioned in the
"Hunter's Cidendar" already referred to in
this letter.

So far as is known, the first Borzoi which
came to America was brought out from Eng-
land by Mr. William Wade, of Hulton, Penn-
sylvania. In 1889 or 1890 he imported a bitch
called Elsie, having purchased her from Mr.
Freeman-Lloyd, who afterward became well
known as a judge in America. Elsie is de-
scribed in the "English Stock-Keeper" as
" nothing to look at, being small, light, and

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

36 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

weedy, no bone, back straight, very curly
tail and too bent in the stifles."

Late in 1889 or early in 1890, Paul H. Hacke,
Esq., of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, through his
friend. Dr. J. B. Grimes, of Pittsburg, began a
long correspondence with Mr. A. J. Rousseau,
an Englishman residing in St. Petersburg.
This correspondence resulted in the purchase
by Mr. Hacke of numerous Borzoi, a number of
which died in transit. Perhaps the best known
of the collection was Zloeem, bred by Prince
G. B. Galitzine, who, if I am not mistaken, was
at that time in charge of the Imperial Kennels
at Gatchina.

Mr. H. W. Huntington, Secretary of the Na-
tional Greyhound Club, about this time im-
ported a number from England, including the
tan-and-white dog, Argoss ; and about the same
time C. Stedman Hanks, Esq., of Boston, vis-
ited St. Petersburg personally, and, assisted by
the then Lieutenant H. T. Allen, Military At-
tach^ to the American Legation, purchased and
sent out a number of hounds to his Seacroft
Kennels at Manchester, Massachusetts, in-
cluding Leekhoi, Groubian, Raskeda, Svodka,
Obruga, Kingal, and Flodeyka. Mr. Hanks ap-
pears to be the only extensive American im-

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 37

porter of these hounds who ever personally
visited Rtissia until my own visit in 1903.

From time to time importations were made
from England, but after the first few years
nothing of importance was brought out from
Russia until 1903, except several importations
of nice-looking hounds by Mr. Edward L.
Krauss, of Slatington, Pennsylvania. His
soiu-ce of supply was German, and these
hounds had good heads and good coats, but
had evidently been kennel-raised for many
generations, and seemed to show it in disposi-
tion and lack of stamina. Many of them were
very weedy, although pretty to look at. To
Continental Europe there were apparently
never any important exportations from Rus-
sia, although naturally, individual dogs were
sent out from time to time. In 1903-04 1 found
nothing there of interest. Although several
large kennels existed in France, Belgium, and
Holland, the hotmds lacked class and uniform-
ity of type; and all showed the need of work in
the hunting-field. Many of these hounds were
of English breeding.

Hardly had the several Iota of importations
referred to reached America than a most ridicu-
lous squabble arose over the name of the breed.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

38 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

and the proper type of dog, its color, uses, and
abilities. There were columns upon columns of
argument in the sporting papers of the day,
mostly written by those who had no know-
ledge, except second-hand knowledge, of what
they were writing about, and judges decided
one way in one show and another way in an-
other — judges who had never seen a Borzoi
six months before. Because the breed came
from Russia and because at times wolves were
coursed there, competitions in wolf-coursing
were held, which were, naturally, farcical, for
it is quite imcertain that any of the dogs which
competed were trained wolfhounds, and in all
probability they were not in condition. Inci-
dentally, they were supposed to kill their wolf,
a thing which is never demanded in Russia,
and which very few dogs of any breed could do.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

LETTER IV

I THINK I have shown you that when, fifteen
to thirty years ago, Borzoi were being sent out
from Russia, although there were then veiy few
specimens of the ancient type in existence, there
was a distinct idea in the mind of the Russian
as to what that type had been; for not only was
this idea depicted by drawings, but written
standards were made which called, in most ex-
act terms, for the salient characteristics of the
ancient type. For example, L. P. Sabaneyef , of
Moscow, writing in 1892, although recognizing
that the breed had changed somewhat, calls for
a standard requiring length of coat, length of
tail, and shape of head, such as were not to be
found in the animals that had left Russia. Al-
though some of the exportations were fairly
good specimens individually, on account of
their mixed blood it was quite impossible to
find them breeding true. In England and
America the lack of dogs approaching this
ideal standard had caused much controversy
as to what type to breed.

After having bred such Borzoi as I could ob-

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

40 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

tain in America for a number of years, and
having read everything I could find on the sub-
ject, I came to the conclusion that in America
there were no hounds that fulfilled the re-
quirements of the Russian standard, nor even
the requirements of the English standard,
which as a matter of fact was practically a copy
of the Russian. I was, moreover, decidedly
nonplussed by the r^eated failure of the breed
to reproduce itself with any kind of regularity.
Of course at this time I was unaware of the
crossings which had been perpetrated. Finally
I became so much perplexed in regard to this
matter that in July, 1903,1 went to England to
inspect the several kennels there, of which I
had heard so much. After weeks spent in visit-
ing every prominent breeder in England, I
was convinced that England was Uttle, if any,
better off than the United States. The then
principal kennel was most notable for the size
and coarseness of its dogs, which characteris-
tic, together with the fact that many of them
were very unsound, made them anything but
coursing types. Coarse heads, with prominent
stops to the skull, were here very much in
evidence. Hardly any two dogs looked alike.
In the minor kennels there were a great many

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

CHAKPION BinRI OF PBRGHIHA
An idol HDclant tfpa hod

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 43

weeds. There was no definite type to be seen,
and, as a whole, the English representation
lacked character. There was no definite cachet
to the breed. There were positively no hounds
that had real quality and substance combined.

Early August saw me in St. Petersburg, and
here I nearly gave up the search fcfr the ideal,
of which I had seen pictures, as I have told
you. On visiting the Imperial Kennels, at
Gatchina, near the capital, I saw only two out
of eighty grown dogs that I should have liked
to possess; but what was more discouraging
than this was the fact that no distinct type was
visible. Some were well coated, others the con-
trary; some had fairly good heads, while others
were absolutely poor types — not Borzoi but
greyhound. The reason for the lack of type in
England and America here became immedi-
ately patent, as more specimens had gone to
those countries from the Imperial Kennels
than from any other. Fortunately, in spite of
further disappointments, I did not relinquish
my quest until I had visited the kennels of
Grand Duke Nicolai Nicolaiovitch, and that
of Mr. and Mrs. Artem Balderoff.

My visits to these kennels came almost by
accident, for Russia is a country of great dis-

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

44 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

tances; and accurate information on any sub-
ject, especially sporting subjects, is most dif-
ficult to obtain. The Russian sportsman is
even more apt to underestimate or overesti-
mate than is his American confrere, and there
are fewer sources of information.

From St. Petersburg I had gone to Moscow,
and visited kennels there with no success in
finding what I was looking for, but what I did
find was more pictures, and this encouraged
me to continue my search. With great diffi-
culty I obtained the address of the editor of a
little sporting paper, and gleaned from him,
after using parts of several languages, that Mr.
Artem Balderoff had an excellent kennel, and
he.thought moreover that H. I. H. the Grand
Duke Nicholas also had "some hounds."

Little did I realize at the time what my for-
time was to be, for had I not seen either of
these kennels, I should have been little the
wiser for all my trip. I sent off a telegraphic
request to be allowed to visit them, and for-
tunately the wires brought favorable replies;
in the one case from Mr. Balderoff himself, in
the other from M. Dimtry Walzoff, who is
*'chef du comptoir" to the Grand Duke.

My trip from Moscow brought me early on

Do,:,7.dDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 45

the following morning to Tula, a town some
hundreds of versts from the ancient capital.
After some difficulty I obtained a troika. With
a crack of the driver's knout and the tinkle of a
string of bells hung at the horses' throats, as
was formerly done in all posting conveyances
all over Europe, the heavy carriage, similar to
our victoria, rolled over the cobblestones of
the town street and out along the dusty trail
towards the estate of the Seigneur. For hours,
we passed through a closely cultivated grain
country, where the peasants were gathering the
last vestiges of the crops, by methods in many
instances not far removed from those em-
ployed in Egypt in the days of bondage, past
flocks and herds, and droves of hobbled horses
attended by barefooted boys and girls —
through forest and open plain until the eye
was delighted by the sight of the white walls of
Monseigneur's mansion, nestled in the midst
of an irregular hamlet of peasants' izbas.

I was met by M. Walzoff himself, that ex-
cellent sportsman and breeder, and by Captain
Golovin, the resident manager of the kennels,
and was most hospitably entertained. The
hunting-lodge, built many years ago by an
Italian architect, as were many of the Russian

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

46 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

country estates, looks over a broad expanse of
prairie dotted with coverts. The magnificent
kennels lie on the two slopes of a valley to the
left. Nearly every room in the lodge is hung
with hunting-trophies killed by the Grand
Duke, and rigorously "protected" by his
clown, a dwarf about three feet six inches tall,
bearing on his thumb the Seigneur's signet
ring, a curious relic of mediaeval custom.

I was not at all prepared for what I saw in
these wonderful kennels. The size and even-
ness in type of the hounds were wonderful for
any breed. Originally they were all white and
grey; but have now bred white and tan, tan
and black, all grey, and even black and pure
white. The black ones are not kept.

Facies noD omnibus una.

Nee diversa tamen, qualem decet esse sororum.

At first it was nearly impossible for me to
comprehend how these dogs could be so good,
displaying everything that the ideal pictures
had called for. Eventually I ascertained that
about twenty-seven years ago the Grand Duke
Nicholas had started the kennel, and later had
placed it in charge of M. Walzoff, who had had
his own hunt at one time. With every resource
at his command, M. WalzoflF got together at

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

THE RCSSIAN TRAIL HOUND OR OUAHCBI

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

WOBONZOVA iXD ITS OVMER

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 49

first comparatively few specimens of real an-
cient type hounds, finding them in remote
comers of Russia. Having a complete know-
ledge of their blood lines, he was able, by intel-
ligent action, by never selling any, and by the
severest process of selection, to produce the
wonderful collection as it exists to-day. It has
been a great feat of breeding, for in some in-
stances results were only brought about by in-
direct methods, such as outcrossing.

I explained to M. WalzoflF the difficulties
that Borzoi fanciers outside of Russia were ex-
periencing, and he was good enough to promise
that, if possible, I might have some of the ani-
mals from Perchina, which promise was even-
tually carried out not only in 1903 but in 1904,
when I for the second time visited Perchina.
Again in 1911 I secured two dog hounds.

After being so immensely surprised at what
was shown me here, although nobody, not even
Russians, seemed to be aware of what was to
be seen, I hardly knew what to expect at
Womnzova, where I arrived after many hours
of railway travel, and versts upon versts in a
troika, in a driving rain through seas of mud.
Glad, indeed, was I to drive through the pack
of yelping peasants' dogs in the village of

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

50 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

Woronzova, and to enter the great hall of the
lord of the manor, product of another Italian
architect more than a hundred years ago.

No more hospitable welcome or more charm-
ing visit could have fallen to the lot of any one
in any country, and I shall never forget how
nearly impossible it was to tear myself away
after a week's stay. Here also I obtained some
hounds, but better than all, — in excellent
English and the most perfect French, — a
complete explanation concerning Borzoi his-
tory and breeding from that keen and extraor-
dinarily well-informed fancier, the master of
this domain of ten thousand hectares. One's
first thought is, why have not English and
American breeders seciu^ specimens of these
dogs, and why has not more been heard of
them? There are three suflBcing reasons an-
swering this query. Primarily, these wonder-
ful kennels are very remote from the ordinary
traveled route; secondly, owing to the English
dog quarantine laws, very few Borzoi have in
recent years left Russia; and, thirdly, years
ago when exportations did take place, this type
was unobtainable. So far as I could ascertain,
no foreign Borzoi fancier, up to the time of my
trip, had ever visited either of these kennels.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

LETTER V

In the world of sport in America there are
but few pastimes which date back scores of
years, and mifortunately there is little tradi-
tion of custom extant to make them interest-
ing. Russian hunting, on the contrary, has been
handed down from the nomad days of the peo-
ples whose blood now flows in the Slav race,
and the procedure has come with it. In France
almost identical methods were employed in
wolf hunting previous to the revolution. Fal-
conry in connection with coursing no longer
exists except among the Tartar tribes east of
the Volga, where in wolf -coursing Asiatic grey-
hounds are assisted by eagles used as falcons.

It must not be thought that modem hunting
in Russia is pursued as it was in its palmy days,
but through central Russia south of Moscow,
in remote sections, it is still continued with
much of the grandeur of years ago. I have seen
it mentioned that a M. Kalmoutsky expended
in one year over forty-two thousand roubles in
an eSort to make his hunt the finest in all Rus-
sia; but in coursing as in other hunting it takes

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

54 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

many years and much treasure to bring about
the best results. In 1904 I hunted with the
wonderful hunt of H.I.H. the Grand Duke
Nicholas. On his enormous estate of Perchina,
the hare, the fox, and the wolf are preserved
with the greatest care. The three hundred
Borzoi and the hundred couples of foxhounds
are kept in the most perfect manner, trained
and fitted for their work with the discipline and
individual attention practiced in a racing-
stable. Great care is taken concerning the liv-
ery, and even the color of the horses must be
uniform. In the hunt of the Grand Duke Nich-
olas they are all roans. In another hunt I was
informed they were all piebalds and skewbalds.

The Borzoi of the Grand Duke are exclu-
sively the ancient type hounds, while the fox-
hounds, or more properly scent-hounds, are
English foxhounds, although in some kennels
the old-fashioned Russian black-and-tan scent-
hound, or guanchi, is still used.

There are two distinct methods of hunting:
one, called field hunting, where the huntsmen,
mounted on ponies, proceed in a long skirmish
line across the open, fenceless country, slipping
their hounds on whatever jumps up. They ad-
vance at a walk or slow trot, in a half-moon-

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

EET OF THE BORZOI OF THE GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS

NEAR PERCBINA

M. Art«m WilUofl moanCAi] on UH; CipMlo Oolorio itudlDii

Qo,:,7.dDyGoOglc

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 57

shape skirmish line, about two hundred yards
apart.

Another distinctly different method is that
of stationing on all sides of a covert mounted
huntsmen with Borzoi in slips. If wolves are
likely to be found, two dogs and a bitch make
"the team." Hare and foxes are more often
coursed than wolves; but in each case three
different methods are employed to drive the
game from covert. It must be understood
that the country is quite without fences or
ditches, with only here and there small groves
of a few acres in extent. The whereabouts of
game is usually reported by the herdsmen.

In the early morning may be seen, wending
its way along the trail-like roads of the dis-
trict, a long line of mounted hunters, each
holding in his left hand a leash of three mag-
nificent Borzoi, two dogs and a bitch as nearly
matched in color and conformation as possible,
and followed by the pack of Anglo-Russian fox-
hounds, with the huntsmen and whips in red
tunics. On arriving at the scene of the chase,
the hunters are stationed by the master of the
hunt at intervals of a hundred yards or so until
the entire grove is siirrounded by a long cordon
of hounds and riders. A signal note is heard

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

58 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

on a hunting-horn, and with the mingled music
of the trail hounds, shouts of men, and the
cracking of whips, the foxhound pack is urged
into the grove in pursuit of the hidden game.
The scene is certainly a mediseval one. The
hunters, dressed in typical Russian costumes,
with fur-trimmed hats, booted and spurred,
and equipped with hunting-horn, whip, and
dagger, and mounted on padded Cossack
saddles high above the backs of their hardy
Kirghiz ponies, holding on straining leash
their long-coated, exceedingly beautiful ani-
mals, make a picture that once seen is not
easily forgotten. But hark! — the sound of
hound voices is changed to a sudden sharp yap-
ping of the pack in "full cry," and simultane-
ously there springs from the covert a dark grey
form bent upon reaching the next woods, some
hundreds of yards away. In an instant he is
well in the open, and sees, only too late, that
he has approached within striking distance of
the nearest leash of Borzoi. With a cry of
"Ou-la-lou," and setting his horse at a gallop,
the hunter slips his hounds when they view the
game, to si^t which they oftentimes jump five
or six feet in the air. There is a rush, — a
spring, — and with a yelp the foremost hound

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

RUSaiAK WOLT HUNTING
Tlig mnUiodt ue ilmoM idcntLul to tbOH in Togua in
berore tb« Revolution

,y Google

BUBBUN HARE COUnSlKG

Do,1,7cd.yGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 61

13 sent rolling; but instantly is back to the at-
tack, which continues — a confused mass of
white and grey, swiftly leaping forms and
snapping fangs — until a neck-hold is secured
by the pursuing Borzoi, who do their best to
hold the wolf prostrate. Then, in a most spir-
ited dash, the hunter literally throws himself
from the saddle of his hunting-pony on to the
prostrate wolf. Formerly a deftly wielded
knife assisted in avoiding any further trouble
for the dogs; but of late years it has become
better form to take the wolf alive. A short
stick, with a thong at each end, being held in
front of the wolf, he seizes it, and the hunter,
with instant dexterity, ties the thong behind
the brute's neck. Reynard and the hare are
captured in the same manner by the dogs, but
in that casea toss in the air is usually sufficient.
In winter, when snow covers the ground and
it is reported there has been seen, in any par-
ticular locality, a family of wolves, the Borzoi
are often taken on a low sled, arranged with a
blanket screen, to a position near the runway
which the wolves are likely to use in passing
from one covert to another. Foxhounds, or
beaters, are sent into the grove, and the wolf is
driven forth; and when well in the open, the

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

m OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

blanket screen on the sled Is drawn aside and
the almost deathlike silence of the snowy waste
is disturbed by the wild rush of dashing bodies
and flying snow.

An amusing anecdote is recorded by one of
the best -known hunters in Russia, of how a few
years ago he had slipped his hounds on a great
grey wolf that had a good start down a road-
way leading to a neighboring estate. It hap-
pened that the owner was out strolling with a
lady of his household on the very roadway by
which the wolf was attempting to make his
escape. Noblesse oblige was quite forgotten.
The Prince, for such he was, on seeing the wild
onrush of the wolf, hounds, and leaping horses,
threw himself headlong into the snow-bank at
one side of the road, while his companion
leaped unattended into a snow-filled ditch on
the other. Past dashed the hunt, the hunters
more hilarious than polite in their mirth, for all
that could be seen of his lordship were his legs
kicking violently in the snow. On fled the
quarry; entering the driveway of the mansion,
he leaped the barrier of the garden, and, in his
wild search for shelter, crashed through the
long French windows of the library, followed
pell-mell by the Borzoi.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

I PEBCHIKA

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

HSIHOD OF USING THE KUESIAN LSAEH

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 65

It must not be thought that Borzoi need no
training to become wolf -catchers; the fact is
there are few of them that are good at this
most difficult game, and even these must be
most carefully trained, as are gun-dogs, fox-
hounds, beagles, and sheepdogs. All this is
very carefully carried out in Russia, live
wolves being kept at the kennels for the pur-
pose of training young hounds, which are
taught to pin the wolf by a hold back of tJie
ear, by running them in company with older
animals on muzzled wolves.

Mr. James Primrose, writing recentjy in the
"World-Wide Magazine," describes in most
graphic language a hunt in which he took part
near Nijni-Novgorod, as follows; —

At last we reacted the forest, and took up our position
in a clearing, where we waited. Suddenly the silence was
pierced by a dismal howl, suggestive of the commingling
of the lament of a dying dog with the wailing of an Irish
banshee. It needed the solemn assurance of the host
himself to persuade me that this was the voice of the
master of the hunt, who, having kept it up for a few
minutes, paused for a reply, which never came.

After a few more howls we were forced to return home
disappointed, detennined to set out next day for the
forest near Kytsckenova, where we knew wolves to be.
This meant that we should be away from home for two

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

66 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

days, and I was told to be prepared to rough it. An un-
eventful joum^ brought us to the puisli adjoining the
wood, where the head huntsman hired a number of
peasants to act as beaters, for the sum of fifteen kopecks
(fivepence) a day. They also assisted our men in pitch-
ing camp and cooking our food, and such-like work.

A slight clearing in the forest was selected by my host
as the scene of the hunt, and to this spot we repured
soon after daylight. The ground was several feet deep
in untrodden snow, the pine trees on either side making
quite a picturesque dark background. Those in chai^
of the dogs took up their positions on the fringe of the
forest, while those on horseback were stationed farther
back among the trees. The beaters were far behind these
latter, armed with long sticks or poles. Strictly speak-
ing, we could have dispensed with their services, but
th^ were deemed desirable in order "to prevent the
wolves from escaping to another wood which was in-
conveniently near.

The wolves had already replied to the huntsman's
howls, and all was excitement. Being anxious to watch
eveiy movement, I dismounted from my horse and
went over to the spot where my friend was holding his
dogs in leash. He had a long dagger hanging by hb
side and carried a coil of rope. Very soon a wolf cantered
by towards him, evidently quite unaware of the pre-
sence of the sportsman, who was stationed behind a

large pine tree. Just after he dashed past Mr. S ,

that gentleman set up a full-toned "Loo! Loo! Loo!" at
the same time letting slip his dogs, who sprang eagerly
forward, making tremendous bounds after the wolf. The

Do,:,7.dDyGoOglc

L WIU>CAT TREED

Do,1,7cdDyGoO^IC

L COBSACS HUNTER AMD HI8 HODHD

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 69

■ hounds were gainiDg upon the quarry eveiy moment,
and before it had gained a hundred yards Dagonyai
("Catchup") overtook it, making an attempt to seize
it by the neck, but the wolf, with a sudden snap and a
savage snarl, repulsed him. What Dagonyai now at-
tempted to do was to retard the quarry's progress until
one of his companions arrived. In the case of a full-
grown wolf a simultaneous attack by the dogs is virtually
necessary, which the animal, by snapping now to the
right, now to the left, endeavors to frustrate. At last,
just as Oregar came up, Dagonyai screwed up hb cour-
age to the sticking-point, seized the wolf by the neck,
and both rolled over in the snow. A moment later the
other dogs were upon the scene, worrying the quany and
preventing its escape-
Mr. S , who had been following close all the while

on his speedy Turcoman steed, flung himself out of the
saddle like a professional circus-rider and threw himself
bodily on the wolf, seizing it with his left hand by the
neck, while with the right hand he quickly and deftly
began to bind the animal with a stout cord. With
lightning speed a slip-knot was passed over the hind legs,
the rope passing around the body and then around the
fore paws. With a mighty heave the wolf was next
thrown upon his back, and a piece of wood forced into its
jaws, which the infuriated creature was not slow to grip.
But in that instant the rope had passed over its project-
ing ends, and in this way the wolf was securely bound,
looking for all the world like a trussed fowl, unable to
move, bite, or scratch, though otherwise uninjured.
The operation was hardly over before the beaters ap-

Do,1,7cd.yGoOglc

70 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

peared with a sleigh, upon which the wolf was placed and
driven away. The carriage had not gone many yards
before a second wolf was seen scampering across the
open. The head huntsman was ready, and at once
slipped his dogs. This was a young wolf and was easily
overtaken and secured. At the end of the hunt four
wolves had been secured, but it was known that, despite
the beaters, three had escaped to the adjoining wood.

As an illustration of the estimation in which
the fighting qualities of the wolf are held by
Russian sportsmen, I will note another author-
ity, Mr. F. Lowe. He writes: —

Becent^ a veiy big wolf, that had been captured with
much difficulty, was matched against any two hounds in
Russia. Thechallengewasaccepted, and the wolf placed
in a huge box in an open space. The moment the trap
was pulled, the wolf stood and faced the spectators; on
the hounds being slipped on him he attacked them; but
they avoided hb rush, and pinned him so cleverly that
the wolf was muzzled and carried off without the least
difficulty: whereupon an enormous price was paid for
one of the hounds.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

LETTER VI -

Coursing under natural conditions has
never been possible in eastern America for the
reason that there is no game to course, but as
one crosses the Mississippi River and comes
into the country of the jack-rabbit and coyote
there is plenty of sport to be found, and in
many localities there are held from time to
time regular coursing meetings in the same
manner as are held the formal field-trials with
beagles, setters, and foxhounds. In America,
so far as I know, these coursing meetings are
always held with English greyhounds, and the
game coursed is the jack-rabbit, which corre-
sponds to the European hare; but there is no
reason why exactly as much sport cannot be
derived fromcoursing jack-rabbits with Borzoi,
or, for that matter, with deerhounds. There is
little difference in speed between any of them,
excepting that, on account of lesser size, the
greyhound is usually quicker at turning; but
even this is largely a matter of selection in the
individual.

There is no more exciting or interesting sport

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

72 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

than watching a pair of hounds course a good,
strong jack, as the game has better than an
even chance of getting away, and usually
starts out apparently thinking he is going to do
so, sometimes facetiously showing off by run-
ning on three legs. One can witness at this
game marvelous sights in facility and beauty
of action — sights that would make the most
wonderful dancer in the world envious.

It is nearly impossible, if not quite so, for
a single hound to catch a jack-rabbit, except
by accident, but when a couple of hounds are
slipped, one will generally turn the rabbit
toward the other. There are hounds found
occasionally that are cunning to the extent
that they are disqualified in course meetings.
They are known as "tumits," in that they will
never run directly after the rabbit, but will
take a chance of cutting away at a good angle
from one side or the other from the direction
taken by their companion, and when the rab-
bit turns, as he always will, sooner or later.they
are right in his track to seize him, provided he
turns their way; otherwise they are fooled for
that occasion at least. No one can account for
how certain hounds will learn this trick, and
it is quite impossible to break them of it; it

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

k WESIBRK WOLFER AND HIS BOKZOI

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

i ■ ■

Do,1,7cd.yGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 75

may be very mteresting p^chologically, but it
is not sport.

Almost anything in the way of a longhound
is more or less capable of coursing jack-rabbits,
but there are few longhounds of any breed that
make good animals for coyote- or wolf-cours-
ing. In any event, the American conditions of
hunting are most severe on the hound, because
he usually has a tremendously long run to
overtake this quarry, who almost invariably
has a good head start, and is at best a very
swift animal.

In the same way that there are but few fox-
hounds, out of many raised each year, that are
retained in a smart pack, so there are but few
longhounds of any breed that make what can
be designated as leaders — that is, animals
with sufficient strength, nerve, and dash to first
catch what they are after, and then tackle it
single-handed or supported by otho- hounds.

As I have already written, wolf-coursing in
Russia is not the difficult game that it is in
America. There, owing to the nature of the
country and the methods of hunting, the runs
are comparatively short; but even so, great
care is used in training the hounds, live wolves
being kept at the kennels muzzled, and the

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

76 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

young hounds set on them to ^icourage them
to take hold. Even when trained, they are not
expected to kill a wolf, but simply to hold it
until a rider comes up.

Eaay the lesson of the youthful train.

When instinct prompts, and when example guides.

In America this careful scfaoohng is' not
practiced; and for coyote-coursing it becomes
simply a question of the survival of the fittest
of the hounds. Almost any hound will course a
jack-rabbit, and no method of himian teaching
can improve their cunning; it is entirely a mat-
ter of practice and condition, which latter nat-
urally depends upon the skill of the handler.
Condition requires careful attention in the
matter of feeding and systematic exercise for
the hounds. Nothing is so good in schooling as
to have a young hound run from puppyhood
with other skilled animals.

Too much stress cannot be laid on the
matter of condition, for this is frequently over-
looked. It takes months to get the ordinary
kennel-kept hound, even the one which is more
or less regularly exercised, in hard condition
for coursing under the diiGculties common to
the West; and I do not beheve that any hound
that has not been worked in puppyhood can

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

IS THE FIELD

Ml tiOD Ijts bj Uni* Pniebtei, 1:

Do,1,7cdDyGoO^IC

SbAcbed fram Ufa br Lool* rnicOKsr, 1910

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 79

possibly acquire, after he has reached the age
of one or two years, sufficient staying power and
love of the game ever to become really good.
Of course, all excellent specimens of " lead
hounds "are the survival of the fittest. There
are many that are willing to follow, but few
that are fitted to lead. There are not many
hounds of any breed that will tackle a coyote
or wolf without proper training; and without
experience, it can be said that it is impossible
for any hound even to catch a coyote. Most
Western wolf-hunters have packs of hounds,
picked up here and there, that are kept merely
because of their performances, regardless of
their breeding, shape, or color. These hounds,
which run loose the year round, traveling at
times sixty to seventy miles a day, are of all
sorts of coursing blood, greyhound, deerhound,
fuid Borzoi. The conditions of coursing wolves
or coyotes are most difficult. In places the
country is very rough, and the coyote gener-
ally gets a long start, sometimes more than
half a mile. He' is surprisingly swift, so that it
takes a good hound to catch him. He is also a
surprisingly good fighter, so that it is asking a
good deal of ai^ animal in coming, winded,
upon- a coyote to tackle it.

Do,1,7cdDyGoO^IC

80 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

It would be a difficult matter to prove what
breed of coursing-hounds, aa a breed, is most
suitable for American conditions, the matter of
practice in any environment being of such vast
importance.

In the West it is most essential that hounds
be trained, by practice, to spot moving objects
on the horizon at great distances, and, at a sig-
nal from the rider, to go forward at top speed
in any direction he may indicate. It has been
suggested that, for certain purposes, the Rus-
sian leash and collar would be adaptable for
America, and in some instances it is now
being used, especially to restrain hounds
from coursing jacks when coyotes are being
hunted.

The practice of coursing first came about
many years ago with greyhounds and deer-
hounds. A writer in "Forest and Stream "men-
tions the early conditions in wolf -coursing on
the plains, and I must especially call your
attention to what he says concerning his
experience in attempting to course hounds
not entered to the game in puppyhood. He
describes conditions not dissimilar to those
ol)taining in certain portions of the West at
the present time: —

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

THE BOUHD VAOOH Or UR. WILUAM BPAETH

(ot OiUetti, Vyomliig)

A aMtbod of hunting In WuMni Amerta which oRcn HnirlHi the uowqMCtlnf

Do,1,7cdDyGoO^IC

' VALLKT FARM

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 83

In winter, wolf and coyote hunting with wolf, stag,
and greyhound is the chief amusement here (Alberta,
Canada). Hundreds of miles are ridden over our
prairies and foothills in quest of these destroyers of our
flocks and herds. There are six packs of dogs within
fifty miles of my ranch, nine to twelve hounds in each.

In '76 and '77 most of the buffalo left this countiy and
drifted onto the great plains, never to return. The
Sioux crossed the Missouri into the Northwest Territory
after their fight with General Custer in the Little Big
Horn, intercepted the buffalo and prevented them re-
turning to their winter home. The wolves followed the
buffalo in large numbers, but many remained behind to
subsist on the old bulls left in the "drag." Most of these
were killed by "wolfers." In '80 and '81 there were very
few wolves to be found on the plains and foothills. But
soon cattle, horses and sheep in thousands were driven
into these then desolate plains until in '85 there were
over one hundred thousand cattle, besides many thou*
sand horses and sheep to take the place of the departed
buffalo. Wolves and coyotes increased enormously.
Poison apparently made little or no impression upon
them.

Wolves prefer fresh meat and are quite able to kill
anything they come across, seldom returning to a kill
after satisfying their ravenous appetites. The cattlemen
decided to procure dogs and see what effect that would
have in destroying these cunning pests. A large number
of dogs were imported, and with a very few exceptions
were found utterly useless. Th€y took no interest in
hunting or killing wolves, as they had not been entered

Do,:,7.dDyGoOglc

84 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

when young. I may say we had no good dogs until ihey
were bred on the range. The method usually followed
here in hunting is this : When a den of wolves is found,
three or four ranchers with their dogs meet at a rendez-
vous and camp for the night. Before dawn horses are
saddled and all are ready to start. Each one is told the
line to be ridden, and at the first aiga of day the riders
are off seeking the wily wolf. Coyotes go unmolested,
unless th^ jump up near the dogs, in which case it is
hard to hold them back. Mr. Coyote b broken up in a
very short time when the dogs run into him, but fights
wicked to the end and is no mean adversary. I know of
a few dogs that can catch and kill a coyote, but they do
not care to repeat it often ; as a rule it takes three dogs to
do it, and they will not stand killing over two or three in
a day. Of course a great deal depends on the length of
the run and the strength and fighting qualities of the
coyote. I have killed seven coyotes in a day with three
greyhounds; in all cases t got in and gave the coup de
grace. It saves your dog wonderfully and ^ves them
courage to know help is coming, and unless one has five
or six dogs th«y are apt to get cut when tired. When
dogs run into a timber wolf, then the fun begins; with
hair on end, back aiched, a sweet smile showing a full
set of teeth, the wolf means business, and it takes four
tried dogs to turn one over and hold him until help
comes. I mean four dogs that can catch him. No doubt
there are two dogs that could hold a wolf, but they have
not the speed to overtake him. This autumn I ran into a
very lai^e bitch wolf with eight dogs. They turned her
ovet several times, but she broke away just as often and

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI as

ran with six dogs clinging to her and making a running
fight, when a cowboy ran up and shot her. Last year I
rode into a band of fourteen wolves with ten dogs and
killed five, but in every instance I assisted the dogs in
killing. This autumn I ran into an old dog wolf. I bad
six good dogs. The lead dogs (two greyhounds) ran into
him and turned him over when, the other dogs coming
up, they turned him over several times, seized him by
the neck, breast and hind quarters and flank, and tore
and worried with all their might. The wolf would break
away, turning like a flash, snapping to the right and left,
his teeth coming together like a fox trap. The dogs ran
him down into a coulie ; here I left my horse, it being too
ateep and rough for him to follow, as the edges were
lined with huge projecting rocks. The dogs appeared to
be having the best of the fight, and I yelled to them to go
to him, but the wolf broke loose and ran to the top of the
andie with most of the pack holding on to him; at the
top they turned him back, and dogs and wolf came on
the run to the bottom of the cmdSe. 1 could not shoot for
fear of hitting one of the dogs, as they were making side
jumps to keep clear of the wolf's jaws. At last the do^
pulled him into the diy bed of a stream and as he was
getting out I gave him his medicine. The dogs were
quite blown. I gave them thirty minutes' rest and took
them to water and killed two coyotes on my way home.
These the dogs killed before I could get to them. They
just held them in the air, and tore them up.

I give you the height and girth of some of my dogs, as
it may be of interest to some of my brother sportsmen :

Qnykaunda — Pedro, height, 27) in., girth, SO in.;

Do,:,7.dDyGoOglc

86 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

Rowdy, b^ght, 27 in., ^rth, 31 in.; Buz, height, 96 in.,
girth, 29§ in-

Staghmmda — Poison, height, 29 in., girth, 39 io.;
Paraon, het^t, 30 in., girth, 33 in.

Crota-bred boarhound and ttaghound — Jack, height,
i9\ in., girth, S3 in.

The man who ha^ two dogs that can catdi and Idll a
big timber wolf can make lots of mon^ on them if he
wants to gamble on it.

Lieutenant Gordon Johnston, of the United
States Army Mounted Service School at Fort
Riley, Kansas, vividly describes some runs
during the present year with a mixed pbck of
young Borzoi, deerhounds, and greyhounds,
belonging to the Lieutenant and the writer.
Coursing at army posts is not uncommon, and
was extensively carried on some years ago at
Fort Riley, when Lieutenant Allen, recently
back from Russia (where he had assisted Mr.
Hanks, of the Seacroft Kennels, in obtaining
Leekhoi and his other hounds), maintained a
pack with other officers, including the present
Major McDonald and Lieutenant-Colonel
Treat.

Lieutenant Johnston, describing the run, says :

Within twenty yards we had up another, a strapping
big one too. Samara and Domino share the h(Hiors at a

Do,i,7cdDi.Googlc

TABKI 07 FXRCBINA.

ImporMd by tb* Talliy Fum Kaniwli, IBll

A gnj brlsdla dog of wi^ant typg

Do,:,7.dDyGoOglc

CBAXPIOK RASBOI 0' VALLET FIRM

DowrdDyGoOglc-

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 89

terrific pace, with Nayada close up. The latter hit a
small ditch and turned about six flips in the air, but I
was glad to see her go at it again. This was the cutest
jack I ever saw. He ran through the wings of the jump
three times, and twice he sprinted strai^t at the solid
jumps, and cut to one side as he reached it. There were
some heads bumped, I can assure you. Samara led with
great persistence until the wily jack started over the
buttes again. This time Nayada and Samara went over.
Duster broke a bone in his foot on this run. Over in the
middle of the flats another old commuter got up and
headed for Junction City along the main road. Nayada
and Samara again took first lead, with the former show-
ing some determination to kill, but there was nothing
doing. They led to the quarter; Bess then took the lead,
with Domino closing up and going strong, passing Bess
at the half. She opened a wide gap by the three quar-
ters, and at the mile had distanced the field. Also Mr.
Jack had by this time reached his office and was think-
ing of Steel Common probably. Domino really wept at
losing this one — she's a game pebble if there ever was
one.

After a bit we jumped two tc^ether. Samara, Jack,
and Siater took one, while Nayada, Domino, Jane, and
Bess took the other. I followed Samara, who ran finely
and is getting the right spirit, going at it as if she would
kill or die. The jack got away, but I was glad to see her
hold her i>ace all the way, about half a mile. Domino
could not he denied, took every turn, and killed. After a
blow we headed for home and stumbled on one of the
best runs I have ever had in my life, about a half mile

Do,i,7cdDy Google

90 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

over perfect going at racing speed all the w^. The jack
had about thirty yards' start, but tliat keen Domino
was at him again, eveiy hound in full stride, the briodle
bitch whimpering in the lead. She turned him three
times in the first mile, but they were long, ea^ turns,
and the jack evidently had confidence in himself. . . .
At two miles Bess led, with Jack. Domino, and Jane
close up. We were all down and out nearly. The jack
and hounds were cantering and only the Longfellow
blood in my horse, John Harper, kept him swinging a
good stride. We had all yelled our lungs out keeping the
hounds up, for they were more than ready to quit when
Bess finally gave him the twist and flopped down. I
never knew there could be such sport in a rabbit. We
were all gasping and tiying to talk at the same time. All
agreed, however, that it was the greatest race ever.

Do,:,7.dDyGoOglc

LETTER VII

You perhaps realize, as do I, that while shows
and showing are often amusing and inter-
esting, and while they tend to bring a breed
before the public, they are not always ad-
vantageous to the improvement in working
qualities of the breed. Theoretically, of course,
judges are supposed to award prizes to animals
such as the standards call for, and the standards
are usually made with proper regard for the
working qualities of any working breed. When
a judge has a practical knowledge of such re-
quirements, proper judgment is generally the
rule. Unfortunately there are many judges
who are quite ignorant of their duties, although
they may even be owners and breeders. I
have seen, not only in America and England,
but in Continental Europe as well, quite un-
sound Borzoi — oftentimes with bad mouths
— awarded prizes, and at almost every show
hounds that are entirely too fat for any prac-
tical purposes are placed in the ribbons. In a
word, the shows lay stress on purely superficial
appearances; and especially in England stress

Do,1,7cdDyGoO^IC

92 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

seems to be laid on points that catch the
judge's eye, rather than on those that prove
the efficiency of the animal as a working ani-
mal. Where great stress is laid on show points,
such animals are liable to be bred from,
whether or not their dispositions and abilities
should be transmitted.

There is a great responsibility on the part of
judges in showing the road to novices, because
if the winners in the shows become degenerate
by having lack of stamina, or because they are
unsound, that type, rather than the strong,
rugged type, will be bred from as a natural
consequence. Superficial show qualifications
should not be of exaggerated importance, but
most serious attention must be given to a per-
fect blending of substance and quality, the two
most difficult characteristics to be found in any
breed of animals in the proper average.

To the breeder of horses the expression,
"You can't make a blood 'un out of a hairy
heeled 'un," means much, for no one knows
better than he the value of blood lines to bring
results. No amount of effort expended in care
and feeding can possibly bring success without
the blood lines being correct.

In a word, pedigrees must be understood.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OHAMPIOM BIBTRI OF FEBCHINA AND SOME OTHSH HOUNDS

FROM THE VALLBT FARH KENNELB

Down FUtta A>«tiiM tv tb« Nw* York Show, 19M

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

PART or THB VALLET PARH KESSBLS EXHIBIT

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 95

to be of any use whatsoever to the breeder. To
the average American breeder of dogs of any
sort, the pedigree means no more than so many
words, and actually might as well be written in
Russian or Chinese as in English. It is not the
mere names of his dogs' ancestors that is im-
portant to the breeder, but their characteris-
tics, mental and physical, back for generations ;
and, more important still, the knowledge of
what combinations produced results.

The breeder of blood stock in any country
where any particular breed has had its origin
has, ipso facto, a great advantage over the
breeder in the country into which the breed is
imported. Inevitably, the breeder in the home
country must have some intuitive knowledge
of the breed, which has not only always been
famiHar to him, but the character and training
of which have for centuries been adjusted to
the exact requirements of the home country.
The fact that acquired knowledge in this re-
gard is inferior to what maybe termed inherent
knowledge, has been proven over and over again
in America, where, notwithstanding the im-
portation of the highest-class sires and dams,
breeding results have often been unsatisfac-
tory. As an example it may be cited that, in

Do,1,7cdDyGoO^IC

96 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

spite of purchases in England of the very high-
est-class show animals in hackney horses and
mares, lamentably few high-class American-
bred animals of this breed have beea produced.
Over and over ^ain this has occurred in vari-
ous breeds, and nowhere more than in the case
of dogs.

ITie best show specimens do not necessa-
rily, when mated, produce progeny of similar
worth, and often results of such crosses are
most unsatisfactory. The English mill-hand
breeder of terriers, a thorough student of the
game, has oftentimes produced the very best
specimens, solely on account of his accurate
and instinctive knowledge of blood lines, while
the big breeder, with every resource at his
command, frequently produces nothing worth
while because of this absolute lack of ability
to read the pedigrees of his dogs with compre-
hension of whac they mean. All the foregoing
remarks apply strongly in the case of Borzoi-
breeding in England and America.

Huntsman! these ills by timely prudent care
Prevent: for ev'ry longing-dome select
Some happy paramour; to bim alone
In leagues connubial join. Consider well
His lineage; what his fathers did of old,

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

BOBZOt DO08 ABB HUGH LABQEB THAN THE BITCHES
Rndlng teft M liitat
ALASKA O' TALLET FARU
CHAMPION aORViS O' VALLET FARM
S HENAOLADHI OF PERCHINA

,:,7i.i.i Google

OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 99

Chiefs of the pack, and flnt to climb the rock.

Or plunge into the deep, or thread the break

With thorns sharp-pointed, pliuh'd, and briars inwoven.

(Htserve with care his shape, sort, color, size.

If a breeder desires to avoid degeneracy,
and to produce the best, it is most unwise to
breed in the haphazard, actually stupid, man-
ner in vogue among many in America. For
example, in such hard-working breeds of many
requirements as foxhounds and beagles, it is
certainly nothing more than a waste of time
and money to produce, raise, and train animals
that from their breeding will in all probability
have qualities which will make them at best
only of fair merit. It should be the effort of
every breeder to avoid producing from inferior
specimens at cdl; and never to breed to any-
thing but the most perfect of stud-hounds.

It is odd how often this last rule is trans-
gressed, simply to save a few dollars, or be-
cause it is easier, or from some sentimental
reason. The consequence is lack of progress.
It is surprising how many intelligent people
will permit worthless specimens to come into
existence from ignorance and from pure lack of
analysis of the situation. To mate properly,
and properly to raise the puppy to beautiful.

Do,1,7cdSyGoO»^lc

100 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

well-shaped, hard-running, hard-muscled ma-
turity, is a most extraordinarily difficult thing
to do, and the very first qualification is a know-
ledge, on the part of the breeder, of what ani-
mals should, from their blood lines and indi-
vidual characteristics, be mated.

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LETTER VIII

Your experience in the handling of horses
has taught you the absolute necessity of giving
your whole personal attention to your animals,
or else to employ, as your agent, the very best
possible man that can be found, regardless of
expense. I go so far as to advise that unless
hounds, and especially Borzoi, can obtain the
personal supervision of their master, or imless
he can find the proper superintendent, they
should not be kept at all, because I have seen
so many examples of the novice, in the keeping
of dogs, thinking that any one is good enough
to take care of an animal. There is no more
difficult task; a man must love the work and
stop at no fatigue or annoyance. He must have
years of experience in a thousand different par-
ticulars, and not be easily discouraged by dis-
appointment. The best service is, of course,
obtained when the master has a practical know-
ledge of what his servant ought to do. If it is
not impossible, it may be sometimes necessary
for the former to see personally that the work
is being properly done. Orders given without

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102 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

exact knowledge of requirements are seldom
well obeyed, and where the master is either ig-
norant or careless, it is little to be expected that
the servant will be otherwise. The personal
equation is the only thing that will give suc-
cess in breeding or handling.

There are divers kinds of kennels, any one
of which can be useful according to circum-
stances. In Russia it is the practice to keep ten
to fifteen hounds together in a single kennel,
with benches similar to the way in which fox-
hounds and beagles are kept; but in a large
kennel where many hounds are kept, and
hounds are in preparation for showing, it is
advisable to have kennels and yards where
dogs or bitches may be k^t individually, or
where a dog and bitch may be kept together.
Where hounds are kept in a pack, an attendant
should always be, both night and day, within
hearing; otherwise there is always the risk of
one animal being set upon by the others and
killed. This is true of any breed.

Before planning a kennel it would be advis-
able for every novice to visit several well-
known establishments, and adopt the best fea-
tures from each to suit his necessities. If any
number of hounds are to be kqpt, it is always

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TWO HOKTHB

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L HURTIItO R&CB

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OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 105

advisable to have an office, with a safe for k»i-
nel records; and adjoining this, an apartment
for sick dogs, and another for bitches with
whelps. Such a building may be easily warmed
with a small hot-water heater. Mature hounds
require no heat. In every case great care
should be paid to cleanliness and freedom from
damp.

Banish far oS

Each noisome steoch, let ao offensive smell
Invade thy wide incloaure, but admit
The nitrous air and purifying breeze.
Water and shade no less demand thy care.

The novice invariably seems to think that
Borzoi require some different kind of food from
the ordinary dog, but such is not the case; so,
for his instruction, the many books containing
suggestions on the subject of feeding and the
care of skin and coat will be found valuable, I
have found, however, that corn meal seems to
cause Borzoi to shed their coats, so that its use
in connection with show dogs is inad'visable.
The coats of show Borzoi on the back and
about the neck should be brushed forward in
order to enhance the rough appearance. After
shipment, especially in the case of puppies,
great attention should be paid to the condition

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106 OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI

of the dog. In the case of puppies, the whole
system is sometimes aSected.

Any trouble with the bowels will usually dis-
appear without the use of any special food, a
tablespoonful of castor-oit isgenerally sufficient
to check the indisposition. Puppies should be
watched very closely for colds, which often-
times quickly run into distemper. Frequently,
a cold can be checked with four grains of qui-
nine, repeated in twelve hours, with a table-
spoonful of castor-oil given twelve hours later.

Young dogs may be fed bread and milk
twice each day, and cooked meat at night,
with a fresh bone now and then. Water should
always be kept convenient. No puppy or
grown dog should be fed more than he can eat
with relish, and food should not be left stand-
ing about. Worms cause much sickness and
always occur in young dogs of all breeds. There
are many good worm medicines which should
be used about once a month. The surest indi-
cation of a puppy being ill is his refusal to eat.

There is a vast similarity between the ill-
nesses of puppies and infantile complaints;
they may seem perfectly well one day and seri-
ously ill or even quite dead the next. So true is
this that one must watch with greatest care for

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CHAMPION KOFCBIC O' VALLEY FARU AT ELEVEN UOSTBS

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OBSERVATIONS ON BORZOI 109

signs of illness, such as hot noses, watery eyes,
lassitude, and especially refusal of meals. Pup-
pies have all kinds of complaints, some of which
are serious and others which look serious
but which actually are not. They should be
treated-in a natural manner, with strengthen-
ing food given them even as many as five times
a day, and all the exercise possible. They should
be allowed to run at liberty, and in addition
should be given exercise first with a man on
foot and later with a man on horseback.

A person who raises dogs must have a bit
of imagination, and not be lacking in ideas to
the extent that a certain M. D. once was who
wrote to my kennel superintendent inquiring
a proper remedy for a puppy of his, ill of some
small complaint quite common in children.

If one imagines the condition under which
the young fox or the young wolf is raised and
acts accordingly, — not forgetting, however,
that the puppy needs his meals more regularly
than the wild animals need theirs, — his suc-
cess will be assured.

I am so fond of my dogs, and I so respect
those of them as are valiant and duty-loving
animals, that I am loath to end my monograph

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no OBSERVATIONS ON B0B20I

with the prosaic details just recited; and wish.
therefore to add a brief tribute to the Borzoi.
He is a companionable dog par excellence,
but is strictly what I should term a one-man
dog; and I have never recommended the
ownership of one to the man who expects to
delegate his care to others. He must, like all
other dogs, be brought up for the purpose for
which he is intended; but properly trained and
educated, he will be found as companionable as
the best — no fonder of fighting than the deer-
hound, faithful as the collie, and more pictur-
esque than either.

Unnumbered acddents and various ills.

Attend thy pack, hang hov'ring o'er their heads.

And pomt the way that leads to death's dark cave.

Short is their span; few at the date arrive

Of ancient Argus, in old Bomer's song

So highly honor'd; kind, sagacious brute!

Not ev'n Minerva's wisdom cou'd conceal

Thy much-lov'd master from thy nicer sense.

Dying his lord he own'd, view'd him all o'er

With eager eyes, then closed those eyes, well pleas'd.

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,y Google

ADDENDA

A CHALLENGE

For some time a controversy has been carried on
in " Cbasse et F^he," the Belgium canine journal,
by Mr. Joseph B. Thomas, Jr., of the Valley Farm
Kennels, and Mr. G. Van Muylem of Belgium re
the merits of Russian Wolfhounds (Borzoi) bred in
Russia and those bred in England.

The argument arose over a remark of Mr.
Thomas's that it was a disappointment to find that
Borzoi breeders in Western Europe, in introducing
new blood in recent years, had overlooked Russia
in favor of England. Mr. Thomas has visited Rus-
sia twice, and since his first visit has contended that
the Borzoi in certain Russian kennels were easily
the best in the world. He has also contended that
they would, when properly mated, breed truer to
type than those to be found anywhere else. This
can be proven in America, as the exhibit of the
Valley Farm Kennels, of Simsbury, Connecticut,
at the coming Westminster Kennel Club Show,
where they will bendi eight young dogs, will de-
monstrate.

To go one step farther to back up Mr. Thomas's

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114 ADDENDA

statement and set at rest several points in the con-
troversy, the Valley Farm Kennels, which have
now made three separate importations from Rus-
sia, hereby challenge Mr. G. Van Muylem to a com-
petition with Borzoi as follows: —

ChaUenge Staket: 5000 francs a side in gold or plate or
any larger amount Mr. G. Van Muylem may suggest.
Stakes to be held by "Field and Fancy" and "Chasse
et Pfiche" (which amount has already been posted with
"Field and Fancy" by the Valley Farm Kennels).

Judges: Three: — One to be appointed by the editor
of "Field and Fancy." One to be appointed by the ed-
itor of "Chasse et Pfiche." One, preferably a Russian, to
be appointed by the mutual consent of the interested
parties. Decision of the majority to count.

Place and Date: Any regular show on the Continent
of Europe or America between April 1st and June Ist,
1906 or 1907.

Condiiiom: The Valley Farm Kennels agree to show
only dogs now in their kennels or bred from stock now in
their kenneb or which they may in the future import
from Russia. Mr. G. Van Muylem may show stock now
in his kennels, or which has ever been in his kenneb, or
which he can breed from the same or which he can
purchase, provided the same were not bred in Russia.
Stock to be the bona fide property of the exhibitor at the
time of the match.

Standard: That of the Russian Wolfhound Club of
America; the Borzoi Club of England; or that of the
Club Beige du L^rier et du Collie.

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ADDENDA 115

Judgment: To be rendered on the basis of the majority
of wins under the following five heads: —

(1) Best dog.

(2) Best bitch.

(3) Best two males, get of same sire (bred by exhibit-
or).

(4) Best two females, produce (bred by exhibitor) of
same dam.

(5) Best exhibit as a whole: Uniformity of type and
conformation to be the points considered.

Competing animals to be named: Fifteen dogs and
bitches, whose pedigrees must be given, may be named
through the secretary of the American or Belgian Ken-
nel Club on or before the ninetieth d^ previous to the
date of the match, of which number but eight may
compete.

Date of Acceptance: Challenge remains open for ac-
ceptance by Mr. G. Van Muylem until April 1st, 1905.

This challenge was never accepted.

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SPECIALTY CLUBS
Russian Wolfhound Club of America
New York, November 18, IMS.
Editor "American Kennel Gazette,"

55 Liberty Street, New York City.
Dear Sir: —

It is my duty and pleasure to inform you that at
a meeting held at the Brooklyn Bench Show,
Thursday, November 12th, 1903, the exhibitors
and others interested in the Russian Wolfhound
organized a Specialty Club for the amelioration of
the breed, to be known as the "Russian Wolfhound
Club of America." An Executive Committee, con-
sisting of Dr. J. E. De Mund and James Mortimer,
together with the undersigned, was appointed to
frame a Constitution and Standard, to be passed
upon by the Club at a meeting to be held at Madi-
son Square Garden at 9 o'clock p.m., Wednesday,
February 10th, 1904, during the show of the West-
minster Kennel Club. The purpose of the Club is
to place the Russian Wolfhound, both as a working
dog and as a "chien de luxe," first in [>opular es-
teem among the larger breeds of dogs. To this end,
better classification and special prizes from this
and foreign countries are already being arranged
for, for the winter shows.

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ADDENDA 117

Application for membership will be gladly re-
ceived by V- -1
" Yours very sincerely,

J. B. Thomas, Secretary.

From the time of the founding of the Club in
December, 1903, by Dr. J. E. De Mund, Messrs.
James Mortimer and Joseph B. Thomas, with a
few others, great advances have been made for the
breed in the show world. The Club recommends an
up-to-date list of judges, and through its efforts
hundreds of specials, medals, cups, and ribbons have
been offered for competition.

The past presidents and secretaries are as fol-
lows: — _ .,

Presidents Secrelanea

1903-* J. E. De Mund, m.d. J. B. Thomas.

1904 J. E. De Mund, m.d. J. B. Thomas.

1905 J. E. De Mund, m.d. J. B. Thomas.

1906 J. E. De Mund, m.d. J. B. Thomas.

1907 J. E. De Mund, m.d. J. B. Thomas.

1908 J. E. De Mund, m.d. J. B. Thomas.

1909 J. B. Thomas. J. P. Hoguet, m.d.

1910 J. P. Hoguet, m.d. J. Bailey Wilson.

1911 J. P. Hoguet, m.d. J. Bailey Wilson.
The present officers are: J. E. De Mund, m.d..

President: J. Bailey Wilson, Secretary.

Other important Clubs furthering the interests
of the breed are the Borzoi Club zu Berlin — Club
Beige du L^vrier et du Collie — Borzoi Club of
England.

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STANDARD FOR RUSSIAN WOLFHOUNDS

Adopteid bt the Rdbsian Wolfhound Club of
America, Sefteuber 1st, l&OS

Head. — Skull slightly domed, long and narrow,
with scarcely any perceptible stop, rather inclined
to be Roman^nosed; jaws long, powerful and deep;
teeth strong, clean and even, neither pig-jawed nor
undershot; nose large and black.

Ears. — Small and fine in quality, lying back
on the neck when in repose with the tips when
thrown back almost touching behind occiput;
raised when at attention.

Etes. — Set somewhat obliquely, dark in color,
intelligent, but rather soft in expression, never full
nor staring, nor light in color; eyelids dark.

Neck. — Clean, free from throatiness, somewhat
shorter than in the greyhound, slightly arched,
very powerful, and well set on.

Shouldehs. — Sloping, should be fine at the
withers and free from coarseness or lumber.

Chest. — Rather narrow, with great depth of
brisket.

Ribs. — Only slightly sprung, but very deep, giv-
ing room for heart and lung play.

Back. — Rising a little at the loins in a graceful
curve.

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ADDENDA 119

Loins. — Extremely muscular, but rather
tucked up, owing to the great depth of chest and
comparative shortness of back and ribs.

Fore Legs. — Bone flat, straight, giving free
play for the elbows, which should be neither turned
in nor out; pasterns strong.

Feet. — EEare-shaped.with well-arched knuckles,
toes close and well padded.

Hind Quarters. — Long, very muscular and
powerful, with well-bent stifles and strong second
thighs, hocks broad, clean and well let down.

Tail. — Long, set on and carried low in a grace-
hil curve.

Coat. — Long, silky (not woolly), either flat,
wavy or rather curly. On the head, ears and front
of I^s it should be short and smooth; on the neck
the frill should be profuse and rather curly.
Feather on hind quarters and tail, long and pro-
fuse, less so on the chest and back of fore legs.

Color. — Any color, white usually predomin-
ating, more or less marked with lemon, tan, brindle,
grey or black. Whole-colored specimens of these
tints occasionally appear.

Genehal Appearance. — Should be that of an
elegant, graceful aristocrat among dogs, possessing
courage and combining great muscular power with
extreme speed.

Size. — Dogs, average height at shoulder from
38 to 31 inches; average weight from 75 to 105

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120 ADDENDA

Iba. Larger dogs are often seen, extra size being no
disadvantage when it is not acquired at the expense
of symmetry, speed and staying quality.

Bitches are invariably smaller than dogs, and
two inches less in height, and from 15 to 20 lbs. less
in weight is a fair average.

Scale of Points

Head 15

Ears 5

Eyes 5

Neck 5

Shoulders and Chest 15

Ribs, Back, and Loins 15

Hind Quarters, Stifles, and Hocks. ... 15

Legs and Feet 10

Coat and Feather 10

Tail _5

Total 100

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JUDGES

Whom the Russian Wolfhound Club of America
recommends and whose selection, by show officials,
the Club will appreciate by offering specials: —

Mr. E. M. Barker,
Mr. J. F. Crangle,
Dr. J. E. De Mund.
Dr. J. P. Hoguet,
Mr. J. Bailey Wilson,
Mr. O. A. Zuercher,
Mr. Karl Bjuiman,
Mr. James Mortimer,

Mr. H. T. Peters,
Mr. George Ronsse,
Mrs. James C. Hadley,
Mr. J. B. Thomas,
Mr. Carl C. Curtis,
Mr. C. G. Hopton,
Maj. H. T. Allen,
Miss J. Forgeus,

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SHOW

WxsTHiNHTiiB Kennel Club Ssowa,

TEAS

Doa

BIRI!

IWH

Bistri of Perchiu

Almai of Perdiina

1905

BUtri rf Perchina

Almai of Perchina

IWW

Bistri of Perchioa

Almaa of Perchina

1907

Rusboi 0' Valley Farm

BUtri ol Pen^una

1908*

RastKH a- Valley Farm

Birtri of Perchina

1009

Raaboi o' Valley Farm

Biatri of Perchina

1910

Rasbol o- Valley Farm

Bijlri of Perchina

1911*

Lorraine's Pontiac

Kopchic o- Valley Farm

1912

ZydoD ot Perchina

Gronyj of Perchina

WINNERS

T£AB

BITCH

SIRE

1QM

Linbezny

IMS

Nayada of Perchina

Armavir ot Perchina

1000

Nsyada of Perchina

Armavir of Petchina

1907

Sorva of Woronzova

Uubwny

1908*

Zoraida

Nenagladni of Perchina

1909

Sorva of Woronzova

LiubeEpy

1910

Belkis

Pojor of Toilla

1911*

Valeaka Bailiff

OhiUka

I9I8

Valeska Bailiff

Obilska

* Valley Farm Kennela did not exhibit.

Do,1,7cdDyGoOglc

RECORDS

New York, 1904-1912 Awards

DAH
PtBchka of PeKhimi
PtBchka of Perehina
Ptachka. of Perchina
Raskida of Woronzova
Raakida of Woronzova
Raskida of Woronzova
Raskida of Woronzova
Zoraida
Zaplia of Perchina

OWNEB
Valley Farm Kennels
Valley Farm Kennels
Valley Farm Kennels
Valley Farm Kennels
Dr. O. F. Behreod
Valley Farm Kennels
Valley Farm Kennels
Dr. J. E. De Mund
Valley Farm Kennels

Balderoff's RAsskida
Podrouska of Perehina
Podrouska of Perehina
Balderoff's Rasskida
Princess Vedma
Rasbida of Woronzova

Aube o' Valley Farm
Aube o' Valley Farm

OWNEB
Valley Farm Kennels
Valley Farm Kennels
Valley Farm Kennels
Valley Farm Kennels
Dr. J. E. De Mund
Valley Farm Kennels
Dr. J. E. De Mund
J. Bailey Wilson
Vladeaka Kennels

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iCbt miontat 1itt0i

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I

-T-T^^

jOOgIc

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